The role of the commercial sector in driving population health outcomes is gaining attention; yet the influence of commercial entities and practices on Indigenous health is underexplored. This case study examined the separate legal disputes between Clothing The Gaps (an Aboriginal business, social enterprise and B-Corp) and two for-profit commercial clothing companies, investigating their potential impact on Aboriginal health and wellbeing, and how Aboriginal business and advocacy can overcome powerful commercial interests. This qualitative case study combined data from interviews with key informants (n = 3) and data extracted from media articles and stakeholder submissions (n = 74) to the Senate Select Committee on the Aboriginal Flag. Data were analysed for key themes with Aboriginal researchers central to the analysis process. Findings suggest that the legal avenues taken by two non-Indigenous companies were enabled by Australia’s existing legal and regulatory systems, coupled with notable resource disparities. WAM Clothing and GAP Inc. asserted their legal rights against Clothing The Gaps to protect their respective branding and profits. The ‘Free The Flag’ campaign demonstrated how Aboriginal business advocacy can garner public and political support to counter profit-focused commercial interests. This case study underscores the importance of recognising the impact of the commercial sector’s lawful pursuit of their intellectual property on Indigenous peoples’ rights, culture, health and wellbeing, and on the transformative potential of Aboriginal-led advocacy campaigns. Further work is needed to safeguard Indigenous cultural and intellectual property rights, and to investigate the diverse industries influencing Indigenous peoples’ health and wellbeing. Not applicable.

Background Mobile clinics have been implemented in diverse clinical and geographical settings to provide proximal health care for specific populations. Primary health care mobile clinics have been implemented widely for Indigenous populations, with a paucity of research evaluations around service delivery models internationally. To redress factors impeding service accessibility for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, Budja Budja Aboriginal Cooperative (Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation located in a small rural town in Victoria, Australia), developed and implemented the Tulku wan Wininn primary health mobile clinic. Methods A qualitative process evaluation methodology was used to explore contextual factors mediating the implementation of the mobile clinic, including the acceptability of the service to health service personnel, external key informants, and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients. A synthesis of international ethical guidelines, (Consolidated Criteria for strengthening reporting of health research involving Indigenous peoples (CONSIDER statement), was prospectively applied to shape the study design and research process. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants. Data collection occurred from July 2019 to October 2021. Inductive thematic data analysis was undertaken concurrently with data collection. Results Data was collected from 19 participants which included 12 health service personnel and key informants, and 7 Aboriginal clients. In total, data from 22 interviews were included as interviews with three clients were undertaken twice. Four themes were developed: considerations for early implementation, maintaining face-to-face services during COVID-19, acceptability as a model of service delivery, and maintaining the mobile clinic as a service delivery model. Conclusion Evidence supporting the acceptability of a primary health care mobile clinic for Aboriginal Peoples residing in rural Victoria is provided. Despite the experience of early implementation challenges and adaptations, the mobile clinic addressed known transport and cultural barriers to accessing primary health care services. In the context of COVID-19 lockdowns, the mobile clinic was valued for the provision of face-to-face care for Aboriginal clients. Key issues for maintaining the mobile clinic include health workforce and funding. Findings are of value to other organizations seeking to implement a primary health mobile clinic service delivery model to redress barriers to accessibility experienced by the communities they serve.

In October, 2016, approval was granted by the Glasgow City Council Integration Joint Board to proceed with a business case for a co-located safer drug consumption facility and heroin-assisted treatment service in the city centre of Glasgow, Scotland. According to Saket Priyadarshi, lead clinician on this project, “the main aim is to engage and build trust and relationships with a high-risk population on their terms”. Supervised injectable heroin or injectable methadone versus optimised oral methadone as treatment for chronic heroin addicts in England after persistent failure in orthodox treatment (RIOTT): a randomised trialTreatment with supervised injectable heroin leads to significantly lower use of street heroin than does supervised injectable methadone or optimised oral methadone. UK Government proposals should be rolled out to support the positive response that can be achieved with heroin maintenance treatment for previously unresponsive chronic heroin addicts. Full-Text PDF